It’s no secret that gratitude is part of our DNA at Reach Partners. That said, the holidays bring new emphasis to something I feel strongly about even when it’s not the season of gifts: the thank you note.

Nobody can argue with the ease of sending a thank you note by email. And we believe there is value in quick shout-outs of gratitude via Twitter and Facebook.

Yet when it comes to saying thanks, email can’t replace the personal touch or lasting impression left by a handwritten note. It takes time to address an envelope, find a stamp, and deliver it to the mailbox. I believe that effort is noticed and appreciated by the recipient.

Here are some additional tips for writing a meaningful thank you note:

Use a notecard that aligns with your business or personal brand. The card doesn’t need your logo on it, but it should feel like it came from you. (As a person, you may want to use a cat-themed notecard; that might not work for your business correspondence.) Reach Partners has blank note cards that can be used for all sorts of notes, including thank yous.

We also took the advice of author Bob Burg and have branded notecards. Our logo is printed on the front; our photos and contact information are printed on the back. These work well when thanking people who meet us for a networking lunch or coffee. Instead of including a business card, which sometimes feels a bit cheesy, our information is right there for the gleaning.

Keep the message simple and short. You don’t have to go on-and-on about the wonderful time you had. You don’t have to fill the entire notecard. As designers will tell you: white space is okay.

Stay authentic. Your words should come from a place of gratitude. Write something specific, but don’t say something you don’t mean. For example, if you suggest getting together for lunch when you have no intention of following up, skip the mention. And, please, don’t use the thank you note as an excuse to ask for an additional favor.

Use your computer’s spellcheck and grammar check tools. Go ahead and type your note in a Word document before handwriting it. For those of us who are spelling challenged, these tools can help us feel more confident about our message. Don’t let fear of a misspelling or misuse of a whatchamajigal phrase stop you from expressing your thanks.

Send the note the same day or day after, if possible. I also recognize that life happens. If you don’t get the note out quickly, still send it. A late note is better than none at all. No excuses are needed.

Confirm the recipient’s mailing address before writing the note. Some people don’t share their mailing address publicly. If you can’t find a mailing address, go ahead and send an email, or a message via Facebook or LinkedIn.